New AXYZ.jpgAfter 16 years of lovingly working with my ever dependable 2000 era Shopbot PRT96
I have just taken receipt of a brand new AXYZ 4008 CNC router with 7 position ATC, 8.5 Hp
vacuum, 5Hp HSD spindle, servo motors, helical rack and pinion, 8" gantry clearance
- 14" Z travel, material locating pins, Laser digitizer (a glorified laser pointer), and a
mister to help cut aluminum and other non-ferrous metals.
You will never hear me speak a disparaging word about ShopBot. They are fantastic
machines and worth much more than what they cost, but as I have very limited
space and the production demands have increased beyond the ShopBot's ability to
keep up (or rather my inability to keep up with demand with the ShopBot. It can
work 24 / 7 - I can't) I have upgraded to a faster, more capable machine.
The new machine is sitting in the garage, the electrician has done his thing wiring all
the bits and pieces to the appropriate power sources ($2000 for the electrician, with
the ShopBot I had to buy a 2 extension cords and a power bar and the wiring was
complete), and I am impatiently waiting for the factory tech to come and commission
the machine (in 11 days - I assembled the ShopBot with the help of my wife over 4
days).
When it's gone I'm sure I will miss the old "Blue Beast" as it has fed my family and
myself since I was laid off 5 years ago and it is responsible for helping to build the
business to the point where a replacement is not only required but also affordable.
Thanks ShopBot for all you have done. Because of you the new cream and maroon
machine has some big shoes (and high expectations) to fill.